Five United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) parliamentarians including Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena were this morning appointed as ministers by President Maithripala Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat.

Mr. Abeywardena was appointed Parliamentary Affairs Minister, MPs Pandu Bandaranayake as State Minister of Democratic Governance, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya as State Minister of Environment, Hemal Gunasekara as State Minister of Samurdhi and Housing and Chandrasiri Sooriyaarachchi as the Deputy Minister of Lands.